Understanding Food Poisoning

Food poisoning is one of the diseases that affects millions every year. Foods that are brought on the street, undercooked food and spoiled foods are the main cause because dangerous bacterias such as E.coli, Salmonella and Vibro parahaemolyticus are just some that are found in these types of foods. More often than not, food borne illness are difficult to tell for most people because its symptoms are rather similar to the flu. Chicken, seafoods, cooked rice and cold cuts are just some of the foods that these bacterias love to invade. It's best to make sure that foods are prepared properly and are thoroughly cooked. Here are some more bacterias you should be watching out for.

1.) Vibro Bacteria - These bacterias are found in raw and undercooked seafoods.

2.) Salmonella - Bacteria that are commonly found in poultry products and some fruit and vegetables.

3.) Norovirus - A very contagious bacteria that is commonly found in shellfish.

4.) Listeria monocytogenes - This is the most dangerous food borne pathogens. Found in soft un-riped cheeses, cold cuts and unwashed produce.

5.) Escherichia coli - Found in raw or undercooked meat and poultry, unwashed fruit and vegetables as well as unpasteurized milk and some juices.

6.) Campylobacter - Commonly found in un-chlorinated drinking water, undercooked meat and poultry products. This disease is one of the leading cause of food illness

But food poisoning can be prevented. I will only take a small effort on our part to keep us from getting sick. We must develop a practice of looking at the expiration dates on the food products we purchase especially poultry and seafoods. Wash all the products you brought from the market like fruits and vegetables and properly cook your food, as most cases involving food poisoning is eating raw or undercooked meat.

Understanding Diabesity

This disease has many different names depending on whom you ask, some call it diabesity, and others prefer the term cardiometabolic disease or metabolic syndrome. But the same problem associated with this condition is insulin resistance and obesity. And according to new research, almost half of all American adults are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes due to the connection of between excess abdominal fat and insulin resistance, which is the causes of diabetes. The main culprit in this condition is the fat cells, particularly the fats accumulating around your stomach area. Fat cells, especially abdominal fat will produce excess hormones that will affect insulin uptake by the cells and tissues causing insulin resistance, raising blood pressure and increased inflammation throughout the body. Abdominal obesity leads to increase fat in the liver, which drives insulin resistance, and increased fat in muscle tissue leads to resistance to insulin in these tissues. Women who gain weight are the most vulnerable especially at menopause because the develop insulin resistance plus high triglycerides and low level of HDL.

When the blood sugar in the body rises out of control due to insulin resistance, it damages blood vessels and can even trigger heart attacks and strokes. Even before a person develops diabetes, the risk of heart disease increases once you have impaired fasting glucose, a condition now called prediabetes. The risk of diabesity depends on large part, the waist circumference. The best way to reduce your chances of getting type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease if to exercise and loose weight and learn to keep the pounds off. But the most important step you can take to avoid gaining weight in the first place. When obese people loose even small amount of weight, it will have a tremendous impact on their health. To reduce the risk of diabesity, here are some things you can do like trying the Mediterranean diet, which includes eating mono saturated fats such as olive oil, lean protein, low and non fat dairy foods and high fiber foods like beans as well as certain fruits and vegetables. Limit your refined carbohydrates and increase fiber, boost your metabolism and calorie burn with weight training and aerobic exercise.

The Dangers of the Flu

If there is one disease that I am sure most of us have gotten at one point in our lives is the flue. For most people, the flu is nothing but a mere nuisance, with the runny nose and home remedies like chicken soup that has rumored to cure even the most stubborn flu. But for the immune-compromised, people of old age or the chronically ill, the flu can be very deadly. Every year, hundreds and thousands of people around the world die of the flue or its complications and many more were hospitalized. For those of us who are wondering how do we know when we really have it? The flue is caused by a virus and last for about three to four days depending on the severity and typically with symptoms including chills, aches and pains, coupled with a stuffy nose and a dry cough. But if they last for more than a couple of days without any sign of improvement, then you need to see your doctor and ask to throughly exam you and you mus also relay to the doctor your medical history and ask him what can possibly be wrong with you.

When you are telling the doctor your medical history and the symptoms that you are showing, you are directing the doctor to narrow the list of possible diseases, test and treatments that can be done. The details of your history and symptoms should lead the medical investigators to the right answers. Some things you can suggest the doctor when getting your checkup is to get a chest x-ray so you may spot and catch the early signs of pneumonia or lung cancer. a blood test can also determine if you have some other disorders like looking for mononucleosis, otherwise known as glandular fever plus other types of infection. But don't go overboard with the examinations. Most of the time simple bed rest and taking proper vitamins and medicine can treat the flu with not much problem. Seeing the doctor every time you catch a flu is not only expensive if your don't have your HMO but also time consuming and creates unecessary stress on your part.

Be Aware of Abdominal Pains

People get abdominal pains all the time. Some may get it from eating too much or not eating at all, eating spoiled foods or maybe its just flatulence. But be wary, sometimes stomach pains are signs that something else must be going on. One of the danger signs of appendicitis is stomach pains and fever. Appendicitis can be treated by a small surgery. But if the appendicitis has already ruptured, this this could lead to a potential life and death situation. Every year, hundreds and thousands of people get appendicitis. Yet most of them are mis diagnosed. Given the high risk of mortality associated with perforated appendix, some doctors tend to make a mistake on the side of caution since removing an appendix is a relatively safe procedure.

But other more serious medical conditions can mimic appendicitis. Some of these conditions include ovarian cyst, tubal pregnancy, some forms of diverticulitis, which is a type of inflammation in the intestines and pelvic inflammatory disease more commonly known as PID. Other culprits includes inflammatory diseases stemming from an ulcer, so its really best to eat your meals on time, gallbladder disease or a live abscess and sometimes even kidney disease or colon cancer. So before any medical procedure, make sure your doctor has utilized every available test to determine the right diagnosis, even to the extent of getting a second opinion. Remember, this you your life we are talking about.

Children Head Trauma

Children are naturally active. They play all the time at home, in school or at the park. And inevitably they might get hurt from tripping and sometimes when they trip, they hit themselves in the head. But injuries from these minor accidents can cause eye and brain damage. They show up as a range of behavior changes that can signal a life threatening problem resulting from head trauma. Traumatic head injuries are the leading cause of death and disability in children and young adults. So it is really important that we watch out for them and if ever they got hurt. They must immediately inform their parents or guardians so that they will be brought to the doctor or hospital for further treatment.

The symptoms can point to a range of health problems. Concussions happen when the fluid surrounding the rain and spinal cord has been throttled. A more serious problem occurs when there is progressive pooling of blood from a torn vessel on the surface of the brain called subdural haematoma a medical emergency usually requiring surgery. Retinal hemorrhages called bleeding in the eye an easily be seen as a visible change can help doctors diagnose shaken baby syndrome and repetitive injuries from sports of from playing too rough. Other sign s that can be detected by a doctor exam is slight weakness in the arms and legs or abnormal pupil responses. Testing of children's head traumas should include a CT scan and a full eye and neurological exam to determine the full extent of the damage.

Misinterpreting Back and Joint Pains

Most of us view back pain and join pain as the inevitable consequence of old age or as a result from getting injured. But pain is one way our body is telling us that there might be something wrong with us. But most dismiss them as just the effects of old age or injury. Pay very attention to them and don't ignore the pain. There are life threatening diseases that mimic these pains and its important to identify them early on so they can be properly treated. here are some serious diseases and conditions that can create back and joint pain.

1.) Prostate cancer and abdominal problems - Prostate and pancreatic cancers and kidney stones can create back pain, often with a sharp sensation in the middle or lower back. These diagnosis may often be missed because people don't normally associate back pain with cancer or kidney stones.

2.) Osteoporosis - Weakening and thinning of the bones is often age related, but it's now happening to younger people to due to the lack of vitamin D which is usually from drinking milk since most young people today would rather rink soda than a glass of milk. This can lean small fractures to the spine and other areas causing pain.

3.) Lupus - This chronic autoimmune disease typically appears as a dark butterfly rash on the face accompanied by severe joint pain. It is diagnosed with blood test and treated with anti-inflammatory medicines.

4.) Swollen Joints - This can be a sign of joint infection. Often a sample of the joint fluid is taken for testing. If an infection such as staph is present, antibiotics are prescribed.

5.) Bone Cancer - Pain can be caused by bone cancers as well as other cancers that spread to the bones. Common targets are the spine and the rib cage.

6.) Lyme Disease - This conditions is usually transfered by ticks. It often surfaces as a joint pain, with or without a rash. If detected early, Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics.

Bacteria In Your Mouth

Hundreds of hours of mouthwash TV commercials about keeping your mouth clean by eliminating 99.99% germs is your mouth that causes bad breath has imprinted us that bacterias are bad for us. However, the truth is bacteria is more beneficial because some organism actually freshes our breath. This bacteria has been identified as Streptococcus salivarius K12. There is a new form of treating bad breath by eliminating all other bacteria in the patients mouth, then introducing the K12 bacteria that once it has established itself in the host mouth, will keep their breath fresh and fight other bacteria that will causes bad breath and even stop strep throat. But oral hygiene is still the best treatment for normal breath problems. Stop smoking, brushing your tongue and flossing all contribute to your breath smelling fresh and clean.

How do we know if we have bad breath? More often than not you might feel a sour taste in your, your tongue may appear yellowish and you may often breath through your mouth and feel a lack of saliva causing a dry mouth. Most of use use commercial mouthwash when we need to freshen our breath. But did you know that there are natural remedies to bad breath? Easting certain types of food will actually make your breath naturally smell clean. Fruits like pineapple and cranberries contains bromelain, a digestive enzyme that acts as a natural cleanser and it also prevents plaque and bacteria from sticking to the surface of the teeth. raw vegetables increases saliva production which helps wash food particles and acid from teeth. Yogurt also reduced plaque and gingivitis as well as stinky hydrogen sulphide. Look around your kitchen. There are also lots of other foods that will help prevent bad breath that may already be in your refrigerator.

Going Overseas For A Medical Treatment

If you think about it, why go through the trouble of going overseas for your medical treatment. The hassles of putting together your travel documents and actually going to be confined in another country's hospital far from home and friends. But seeking medical treatment has already been an old practice dating back to ancient times. Two of the most common problems, cancer and heart disease are at the top of the conditions being treat overseas on now what is called medical tourism. When someone requires specialized treatment without delay and at a reasonable cost, then medical tourism is the way to go. They are attracted to overseas medical institution because of the expertise of certain foreign hospitals and their medical staff especially the reputation of their doctor. It's about getting medical procedures performed by highly trained doctors using state of the art equipment.

Another reason on why people choose international hospitals is they have already exhausted all medical options in their respective country and would like a second opinion on their diagnosis, which usually requires delicate surgery that may critically affect their health and way of life a plus the required facilities may not be readily available locally. There are various criteria when deciding where to go for a treatment and is often a personal decision to make by the patient. Research and instincts plus lots of consultations and reassurance from medical experts and friends greatly influences where they decide to go for treatment. Also, look for accreditation and certifications of the hospital and find out as much as possible the qualifications of the staff, the success rate of the surgeon who is going to carry the operation and find out if the doctors are licensed and credentialed by the hospital and their respective medical boards

Urinary Bladder Cancer

Cancer of the urinary bladder is easy to detect when there is blood in the urine or hematuria. When a person is showing this kind of symptom, he or she should take this as a sign immediately go and consult a doctor for a medical checkup. Bladder cancer is the most common form of cancer in the urinary tract. It’s even more common than testicular cancer and kidney cancer combined. If cancer of the bladder is suspected, x-ray procedures coupled with cystoscopy examination is necessary to verify if there is indeed cancer.

If cancer of the bladder is discovered, the urologist must conduct a biopsy to determine the depth of penetration into the bladder wall of the tumor. The growth of the tumor into the muscle is the single most important indicator of prognosis especially because of superficial cancer of the bladder where the cancer is confined solely on the lining can be cured by simple ablation with a cystoscope or fulguration with electricity but the use of laser has made such treatments easier.

But if the tumor is invasive into the bladder wall, if it’s already a high-grade lesion or if its superficial cancer that cannot be treated with local measures, then there is no option but to operate. The problem with the decision to operate is that it involves the removal of the entire bladder called cystectomy so that the urine has nowhere else to go and because of this patients will constantly leak urine 24 hours a day unless diverted to a bag outside the body. No drugs or combination of drugs will work on advance cancer of the bladder as of today but in the future, doctors are hoping for a medical breakthrough that will cure patients with the disease.

New Treatments For Your Vision

If you are used to wearing your eye glasses or contact lenses due to blurry vision due to a number of reasons like farsightedness, cataracts or nearsightedness ; prepare to put them away because there are new breakthroughs in the field of vision care. Over the years, new innovations like drugs, surgeries and new materials have come up to help you see better. Here are some common eyesight problems that has alternative ways of curing them.

1.) Age related macular degeneration - This is the breakdown of the macula which controls one's central vision. A new targeted therapy called Anti-VEGF ( vascular endothelial growth factor ) agents, Lucentis, Macugen and Avastin is injected to the back of the eye in while the patient is anesthetized to help stop central vision loss.

2.) Cataracts - This condition makes the eye lens cloud as you age so it makes if difficult for you to see. New lenses called Tecnis ZM900 and Alcon ReSTOR are multi focal intra ocular lenses (IOLs) are artificial implants that mimic the natural lenses giving suffering patients spectacle free distance and near vision.

3.) Glaucoma - Is caused by damage to the optic nerve that causes progressive loss of the field of vision. A new drug called Anecortave acetate is injected around the wall of the eye and appers to decrease production of myocilin, a protein that clogs the pore system inside the eye where fluids drains.

4.) Myopia - Also called nearsightedness in which objects in the distance appear blurry. A new pliable lens Phakic Implantable contact lens (ICL) is injected by an ophthalmologist into the eye where it unfolds to correct nearsightedness.

5.) Presbyopia - A condition in which the eyes lens loses its elasticity making nearby objects appear fuzzy. New glasses being developed called switchable bifocals will someday let you switch from near to farsighted vision at the touch of a button.

Antioxidants Miracle Drugs?

Health supplements that are rich in antioxidants are selling like hotcakes. People have come to believe that antioxidants will promote health and and will prevent disease. Food supplements like cranberry capsules, green tea extract as well as vitamin C and vitamin E are bought and consumed by people by the bucket loads. Commercials shown on the television promote certain fruit juices that have boasted to be rich in antioxidants to help us fight highly destructive chemicals called free radicals. But is this really the case? Recent studies in the past few years have concluded that at best, antioxidant supplements do little or nothing to benefit our health. Even worse taking or accidentally taking large doses will give us the opposite effect and will give us health problems that they are suppose to stamp out.

But how did antioxidants acquired the reputation of being a miracle health cure? Decades ago, scientist has discovered that highly destructive chemicals called free radicals are linked to many kinds of diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancers, diabetes and even arthritis. And it was soon discovered that people whose diet are rich in fruit and vegetables have lower rates of diabetes, dementia and certain types of cancer. Fruit and vegetables are a rich source of antioxidants so the connection was made. Free radicals bad, antioxidants good.

The best know antioxidant, vitamin E was put to the test recently by scientist to prove that it is no miracle drug. Studies have shown that vitamin E supplements cannot prevent cancers and Alzheimer's. But taking antioxidants does have a health benefit, but not the way it was hyped out to be. Green tea was found to have health benefits. The best way to have a healthy body is by living a healthy lifestyle. Eat a well balanced meal of fruit, meat, fish and vegetables, take plenty of liquids a get enough sleep. And as of now there is no magic pill that we can take to make us magically healthy.

Herbal Alternative To Prescription Drugs

In most cases where conventional prescription drugs fail, herbal medicines can work astonishingly well. Many scientific studies have already proven that herbal medicines work as well or even better than standard over the counter medicines that are use to treat anything from arthritis, osteoporosis, anxiety to migraines. In fact many practicing medical doctors regularly prescribe herbs instead of modern day medicines even from big modern hospitals located in the U.S and across Asia.

In countries like China where herbal medicines are sold regularly have testified its benefits to the people as well as many Chinatowns all over the world sell traditional chinese medicines, in which a large portion of them are made from herbs. There are many benefits of herbal medicines compared to over the counter drugs, like there is no danger of overdose in case you take a large amount of herbal medicines accidentally and are cheaper compared to their pharmaceutical counter parts. But the greatest benefit of all is they can be used to treat ailments for which there are no known drug treatments like you can use herbal medicine to kill viral infections that dont respond well to antibiotics as well as some forms of cancer. You can even use them to treat your varicose veins. But please bear in mind that not everyone will respond well to herbal medicines but you will be pleasantly surprised on how well herbal remedies work.

Head and Neck Cancers

Head and neck cancers can significantly alter a persons physical appearance since this sickness usually requires the removal of the lower jaw and requires an implant which can cause depression in patients usually loosing their will to live. When dealing with this type of disease, multidisciplinary approach is the best means of treating this cancer. Multidisciplinary approach simply means that a group of physicians decides on what treatment options to take. The treatment guidelines vary depending upon the stage of the ailment and the medication custom made for each individual. The options for the treatment are then presented to the patient, who ultimately decides on what course the oncologists, surgeons, anesthesiologist, and other specialist should take. A psychiatrist will provide emotional support for the patient.

Early detection of head and neck cancer is vital because late stage detection of this cancer will prove to be fatal since the outcome of survival has not improved in recent years despite the onset of new medical technology. A person must watch out for the following signs that may indicate symptoms of head and neck cancer like a lump in the neck that last more than two weeks needs to be checked. This is because cancer that begins in the head and neck region will spread to the lymph nodes in the neck. Swallowing problems and pain in the through that lingers for a long time. Mouth sores, changes in the voice, bringing up blood that may be caused by tumors in the mouth. Nasal obstructions, hearing loss, persistent earache or pain in or around the ear when you swallow and changes in the skin.